ARASHI KATO

Birthday: July 18, 1993
Hometown: Shida, Japan
Resides: City of Cape, Japan
Stance: Natural
Sponsors: Volcom, DaKine, Bond Surf
Results:
2^nd: 2009 OPJ Global Challenge Stop 5, Japan
9^th: 2009 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge Championships, Keramas, Bali, Indonesia

PHOTOS

Rounding out the Eastern contingency stands Japan’s latest contribution to junior surfing, Arashi Kato. With a lightning-fast forehand attack and a pension for releasing the tail on an unsuspecting section, the humble regular-footer has proven that he can hold his own against the best in the world time and again. Most recently, at the Oakley Pro Junior in Japan, Kato put up a tremendous showing against Malibu’s Dillon Perillo when he very nearly took out the American in the shoulder-high beachbreaks at Chiba, leaving many of his Pro Junior counterparts singing his praises.

Rest assured that when Kato his the water and the heat horn blows, this kid means business. Just because he may not be a major name in the American surf media doesn’t mean that the can’t hang with the best of them. Keep your eyes on Kato.